Blog

Newlyweds in the Northern Territory

Posted: 6 March 2015
Updated: 2 August 2016

When it comes to planning a honeymoon, the list of destinations to choose from can be very long. After a lot of travelling over the years, my husband and I have found that nothing compares to exploring our own backyard, Australia. So we decided to experience a region that we hadn’t been to before; the Northern Territory.

Hitting the dirt track in the Northern Territory

We departed from Sydney and before we knew it we were in Darwin, sitting back and relaxing while being driven down long red dirt tracks learning about the area around us. A dry landscape turned into huge wetlands which we cruised down with a local guide and spotted a variety of birdlife, beautiful flowering water lilies and crocs in their natural habitats.

Mary River Wetlands Cruise

Relaxing crocodile on the Mary River Wetlands Cruise

Our lunch stop felt like walking through a museum at the Bark Hut Pub. There was so much history with a major focus of the outback. After feeding ourselves we fed Jack and Jill who are the local buffaloes, as well as emus and watched snakes from a distance. The first day ended with the breathtaking Ubirr. Aboriginal artworks were scattered across the rock walls and their stories were brought to life by our driver guide. The views from the top were magnificent and rewarding.

Hubby feeding the locals at the Bark Hut Pub on the Arnhem Highway

Day two was my favourite day of the holiday. We began with Barramundi Gorge, also known by its Dreamtime name, Maguk. A natural walking track led us through dry wetlands, surrounded by fluttering butterflies to find a beautiful Gorge and waterfall all to ourselves. To finish off an amazing day, we enjoyed a romantic three-course candlelit dinner while cruising down Katherine Gorge listening to the history and culture of the Jawoyn people.

A refreshing dip at Maguk Falls

A breathtaking sunset followed us down the Gorge as we were surrounded with the aromas of fresh local produce and meats like crocodile and kangaroo that were being cooked at the back of our boat by a chef. The scenery was incredible, the rock art and Aboriginal stories were insightful, the Gorge walls were magnificent, and the food was divine; this was a luxury cultural experience I will never forget.

Katherine Gorge River Cruise

On day three, we travelled through Litchfield National Park where we saw the huge termite and magnetic mounds that often towered over us. We then climbed the stairs which led us to the flowing Florence Falls; a beautiful natural crystal clear plunge pool lined with a gushing waterfall, rocks and palm trees.

Our last swim was at the well-known Wangi Falls. We swam under and climbed up the running waterfall where we could sit in the refreshing pools the water was running into. After all that swimming we purchased some local art and had to try the famous Wangi mango cheesecake which was even better than we expected! A definite must-try.

Next was the daunting Jumping Crocodile Cruise. We waited patiently; intrigued until the intimidating crocodiles lunged out of the water to earn their meat and we had to stand back. It was very special to see these unique animals in full action.

We then had a few days to ourselves to explore Darwin city. We greatly enjoyed walking around the busy entertaining city and seeing all the sites. The Mindle Markets are definitely not to be missed, especially once you grab some locally inspired dinner and take it onto the beach to watch the sunset over Mindle Beach!

Over all it was the perfect honeymoon. It was relaxing and adventurous, with a little bit of everything. We will definitely be back.

AAT Kings is Australia’s favourite guided holiday company, with over 100 years of experience. Our wide range of Day Tours, Short Breaks and Guided Holidays are the perfect way to experience the best of Australia & New Zealand.